Lou and Matt Cox at our wedding!

IT was a weekend to remember at the 38^th Carole Nash Bristol Classic MotorCycle Show, with the Best in the West event drawing huge crowds to admire the hundreds of classic machines on display.

The February 3-4 show enjoyed a high number of visitors all eager to witness the delights that the show had to offer, including fascinating classic motorcycles, bargain buys on autojumble stands and a nail-biting auction to boot.

Tony Pashley took home the coveted Best in Show prize with his award-winning 1934 Model 95 Sunbeam. It was once on display at the National Motorcycle Museum where it was a casualty of a devastating blaze in 2003, but was then passed into the hands of top restorer John Phyzacklea, who lovingly rebuilt it to its current condition. Since being restored the bike has been showcased at numerous shows and has quite a few awards under its metaphorical belt, such as Best Road Racing Bike and Best Pre-War Bike.

This show is renowned for the efforts from the motorcycle clubs, whose members again proved their commitment to creativity. Wells Classic Motorcycle Club won Best Club Stand in Show with its inventive shop front theme, which attracted the eyes of judges and visitors alike. New Imperial and Goldstar came in a close second and third.

Event organiser Nick Mowbray said: “What a brilliant weekend! We have received marvellous feedback from visitors and traders alike. We constantly strive to make the show bigger and better and this show has been no different.”

A message from show sponsors, Carole Nash:

"We were delighted to sponsor this fantastic show again, getting up close with bikes and bikers from all over the UK. It’s always one of our favourite events on the calendar and this year’s show was better than ever. The Carole Nash stand, like all others, was buzzing, and we can’t wait to be back again next year."

Attention now turns to The Classic Dirt Bike Show Sponsored by Hagon Shocks, celebrating all things classic dirt bike, at The International Centre, Telford, TF3 4JH over the weekend of February 17-18. The show is set to be an off-road jamboree for all fans of the dirt bike scene. 
For more information please go to: www.classicbikeshows.com

The Official Launch of the 2018 Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy will take place on Wednesday 21^st March at the Villa Marina.

The most famous names in TT racing will be in attendance at the event to talk about their preparations and ambitions ahead of the 2018 event.

The star studded evening will see the latest news on all of the action on track announced, as well as details of new additions to the off track schedule. All of which will be set against a backdrop of some of the amazing machines being ridden this year along with the iconic TT trophies and a non -stop collection of awe inspiring TT video clips.

Doors open at 7.00pm for a 730pm start with tickets priced at £5 available from the Villa Marina box office at www.villagaiety.com

If you can’t be on the Island, you will be able to watch the proceedings live via the Official Isle of Man TT Races website - iomtt.com

AS WE WAIT FOR THE THREE DAYS OF TESTS IN THAILAND, SCHEDULED FROM 16 THROUGH 18 FEBRUARY, IT'S TIME TO DRAW SUMS AFTER THE FIRST TESTS OF THE SEASON IN SEPANG

In the Aprilia camp, there were great expectations for the début of the new RS-GP machines in the 2018 version. It was even more of a change for Scott Redding, astride the Italian V4 for the first time.
After initial contact in November at Valencia and Jerez with the 2017 bike, the English rider had a chance to test the 2018 RS-GP in Malaysia. This is the perfect time to make a preliminary analysis of the beginning of this new adventure on the Italian team.

What do you think of the new Aprilia RS-GP?
"The test in Malaysia has been a sort of shakedown, we had the new bike and I haven't been riding the Aprilia since Jerez. At the beginning, when we simply put the 2017 setting on the 2018 bike, it didn't work for me. For Aleix it wasn't a big difference, but he has a lot more experience on this bike. We started to work on that, even experimenting, to make me feel comfortable on the bike. At the end of the three days I was happy, we found some solutions that we'll keep using and, most important, we found the direction to work on for the future. I've been faster every day, cutting the gap with the front guys and I feel there's still a lot of room for improvements".

You're young but you already have a great experience in MotoGP, is it helping you developing a new bike like the RS-GP?
"I have a good experience but not with a factory bike. I have a good ability to feel the bike and to explain the people developing the Aprilia RS-GP. It's the first time I've been given the tools to be able do that and that motivates me a lot, I feel really in my place. I have a unique riding style compared to many other riders, I'm bigger, heavier, and now that I can go a little bit in the right direction for me we'll see what we can do".

How has it been the first approach with the team?
"It's been good, I felt great from the first day. I have a good crew around me, very supportive and very straight down the line of what I need. In Sepang I think we found the right connection, the guys are starting to understand what I like on the bike and what I need to be fast. I feel all of the Aprilia guys believe in me and that's what I was looking for. I'm really happy to have this opportunity".

What is your goal for this season?
"To keep going forward, developing the Aprilia, working a lot in testing with the new bike. I want to put the Aprilia in the top-6, last year Aleix has shown that it is a result within our reach and I think the new bike has even more potential, there are still some new parts coming like the new engine. We still have some testing to do, after that my main priority will be to keep improving the bike race by race ad try to be as competitive as possible".